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La Symphonie fantastique

The film is biographical, telling the story of the life and artistic struggles of the French composer Hector Berlioz. Berlioz is shown as a recalcitrant medical student in an anatomy class dreaming of becoming a composer; at a demonstration during a performance at the Paris Opéra conducted by Habeneck; at supper with other young artists (Hugo, Janin, Dumas, Mérimée, Delacroix); and chasing after his future wife Harriet Smithson, after a performance of Hamlet. Also depicted are his life in a garret, while suffering from an illness due to an abscess in the throat; a visit from his mother who curses him; and the composition of the Symphonie fantastique. The film then shows his marital breakdown, the premiere of his opera Benvenuto Cellini, his travels throughout Europe, his second marriage to Marie Recio (called "Marie Martin" in the film), public acceptance in old age and reconciliation with his son.

1942 |1h 35m |  Drama, History

Cast

cast

Jean-Louis Barrault

Hector Berlioz

cast

Renée Saint-Cyr

Marie Martin

cast

Lise Delamare

Harriet Smithson

cast

Jules Berry

Schlesinger

cast

Bernard Blier

Antoine Charbonnel

cast

Gilbert Gil

Louis Berlioz

cast

Julien Bertheau

Victor Hugo (uncredited)

cast

Catherine Fonteney

Madame Berlioz mother (uncredited)

cast

Louis Seigner

Habeneck (uncredited)

cast

Noël Roquevert

Gendarme (uncredited)

cast

Roland Armontel

Eugène Delacroix (uncredited)

cast

Rivers Cadet

Consumer (uncredited)

cast

Lucien Coëdel

Typographer (uncredited)

cast

Jean Darcante

Prosper Mérimée (uncredited)

cast

Joé Davray

Student (uncredited)

cast

Jacques Dynam

(uncredited)

cast

René Fluet

Jules Janin (uncredited)

cast

Georges Gosset

Alexandre Dumas (uncredited)

cast

Pierre Magnier

Professor (uncredited)

cast

Georges Mauloy

Dean of the Academies (uncredited)

cast

Marcelle Monthil

Dresser (uncredited

cast

Louis Salou

Director of the Opéra (uncredited)

cast

Maurice Schutz

Niccolò Paganini (uncredited)

cast

Roger Vincent

(uncredited)

cast

Michel Vitold

Orchestra conductor (uncredited)

cast

Georges Vitray

Ship's commander (uncredited)

cast

Eugène Yvernès

(uncredited)

More Details

Status

Released

Language

French

Budget

-

Revenue

-